Noise maker stilts



June 12, 19 62 NOISE MAKER STILTS Filed Sept. 26, 1960 I I INVENTOR. /.2 ROBERT 5. 5Z/5J/N6ER R. B. BussnuGER 3,038,264

3,038,264 Patented June 12, 1962 ice 3,038,264 NOISE MAKER STILTS Robert B. Bussinger, Stanislaus County, Calif. (1005 E. Fairmont, Modesto, Calif.) Filed Sept. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 58,561 4 Claims. (Cl. 36-7.5)

This invention relates to walking block or stilt amusement devices in general, and is particularly directed to an extremely economical stilt device capable of making a loud noise in time with the walking of the user.

Various walking block amusement devices have been devised over the years, and one of the most popular of these from the standpoints of availability and economy as well as from the entertainment point of view is readily derivable from discarded tin cans. More particularly, a walking block device is easily made by merely crushing the central portion of a tin can with the foot in such a manner that the can is retained to some extent upon the shoe of the using individual. The walking blocks thus formed have a certain amount of instability such that walking on the blocks is more diflicult than ordinary walking and is hence amusing to a child. In addition the tin can blocks produce a loud clomping sound upon striking the pavement thus providing a further form of entertainment to the child. The simple tin can walking blocks just described are of course not without disadvantages, particularly in that there is no provision to retain the blocks on the shoes of the user for a sustained period of time. This has prompted the development of various elaborate devices based on the same general principle as the tin can blocks but of a finished manufactured form. Many of these devices enhance the amusement benefits derivable therefrom by providing the blocks in an elevated stilt form. However, the existing manufactured stilt devices by virtue of their elaborateness are of too great an expense to appeal to many consumers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a walking block or stilt amusement device which while providing a degree of entertainment commensurate with existing elaborate manufactured devices of a similar nature is of extremely lesser complexity and expense.

It is another object of the invention to provide an extremely simple foot accommodating element for receiving and retaining discarded tin cans in such a manner that the resulting combination functions as a highly entertaining noise making stilt amusement device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stilt device of the class described that is adapted to be used with tin cans of a Wide variety of sizes so as to be readily changeable in instability characteristics and thereby accommodate the whims and requirements of children of different ages.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and form-ing part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of a preferred embodiment of the stilt device of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a partial side elevational view of the device of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a right hand end view of FIGURE 1, with the lower portion of the can being broken away, and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the stilt device depicted in operable position upon the foot of a user.

Considering now the invention in some detail and referring to the illustrated form thereof in the drawing, there is provided a foot accommodating support element 11 arranged at its upper surface for securance to the foot of a user, and at its lower surface to retentively receive a tin can 12 adjacent the end thereof with the longitudinal axis of the can substantially perpendicular to the plane of element 11, the combination of these elements functioning as a highly amusing stilt device. The element 11 is preferably simply provided as a flat rectangular block 13 of inexpensive rigid material such as wood. A pair of straps 14, 16 are then secured to the block and criss-crossed across the central portion of its upper surface to engage about the foot of a wearer as depicted in FIGURE 4. The straps thereby facilitate the ready securance of the block to the foot in supporting relation thereto and preferably are made of elastic material so as to fit all sizes of feet.

As regards the can securing means of the element 11, it is to be noted that such means are preferably provided as a pair of cylindrical retention members 17, 17' secured transversely to the underside of block 13 in symmetrical longitudinally spaced relation to the middle thereof. More specifically, the members 17, 17' are best bevelled at their opposite ends and provided with pairs of diametrically extending bores 18, 18 through the centers of the bevelled regions. The bores receive cap screws 19, 19' which threadably engage, sets of tapped bores 21., 21' in the underside of the block. Preferably a plurality of sets of the bores 21, 21' having varied spacing therebetween are provided such that the spacing between the retention members 17, 17' may be readily varied to accommodate cans of different sizes. In this connection the cap screws 19, 19' are readily removable from the tapped bores 21, 21'. Thus the members 17, 17' may be attached to the block 13 at any appropriate set of the tapped bores which provide a spacing between the members, commensurate with the diameter of the particular size of can to be employed. With the spacing of members 17, 17' set to accommodate the can 12, for example, the can may then be slipped laterally between the members, the bead 22 of the can projecting into the spaces 23 between the surfaces of the respective members and the underside of the block (see FIGURE 2). Securance of the can to the block is completed by means of nails 24, 24 which are disposed in diametric bores 26, '26 extending through the central regions of the members 17', 17' in parallel relation to the underside of block 13. More particularly, the nails are forced through the bores to penetrate the side walls of the can engaged by the facing surfaces of the retention members. In order that the nails may be readily removed they are preferably provided with double heads 27, 27'.

By virtue of the adjustable nature of the retention members and detachability of the fastening nails which facilitate the use of substantially any size tin can in the stilt device, a variety of instability.characteristics are readily attained. A short can may be employed to provide a relatively high degree of stability commensurate with the balance capabilities of young children whereas a long can may be employed to suit the more adventurous fancy of an older child. With cans of appropriate size secured to a pair of the elements 11 and the elements secured to the feet of a user in the manner depicted in FIGURE 4, a highly entertaining stilt device is thus provided, which in addition to challenging the skill of the using individual, is amusing from the standpoint of the loud clomping noise produced by the cans contacting pavement in time with the walking of the user.

What is claimed is:

1. A walking block amusement device comprising a foot accommodating rigid support member having fastening means at its upper surface adapted for securance to a foot and a pair of retention members secured to the lower surface of said support member and adapted to receive a tin can adjacent the end thereof and retentively engage diametrically opposed side portions of said can.

2. A device according to claim 1, further defined by the retention members being adjustable to retentively receive tin cans of different sizes.

3. In combination with a tin can, a foot support element comprising a rigid block adapted at its upper surface to be secured to the foot of a wearer and a pair of rigid retention members secured to the underside of said block in longitudinally spaced relation, said members adapted to receive said can adjacent one of its ends and each having a longitudinal bore therein in confronting relationship with the side walls of said can, and a pair of fasteners each disposed respectively through one of said bores and piercing the walls of said can for retentive engagement therewith.

4. A stilt amusement device comprising a fiat rectangular block adapted at its upper surface for securance to the foot of the wearer, said block having a plurality of sets of transversely spaced tapped bores in its lower surface of varied longitudinal spacing symmetrical with reference to the middle of the block, a pair of cylindrical retention members each having diametric bores through their ends for registry with the tapped bores of the respective sets thereof, a tin can disposed with one of its ends contacting the lower surface of said block in the central region thereof, cap screws extending through the bores in said retention members and threadably engaging the set of said tapped bores having a longitudinal spacing corresponding to engagement of the members with the side walls of said can, and fasteners extending longitudinally through the middles of said members and through the side walls of said can for retentive engagement therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

